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Hinshaw's Records

One of the most important references for researching the names on Quaker quilts is the Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy compiled by William Wade Hinshaw. This encyclopedia was initially published in six volumes by the Edwards Brothers, Inc. of Ann Arbor, Michigan, between the years 1936 and 1950. Its volumes have since been republished in paperback by the Genealogical Publishing Company of Baltimore, Maryland, along with an index to all six volumes. Many public libraries have these volumes for use by family historians. If your library does not have Hinshaw's volumes, you can access Hinshaw data at http://www.ancestry.com/ or purchase a CD containing all volumes by searching on "genealogy CDs". Several web sites sell CDs containing the Hinshaw material. (Be sure to confirm that the CD you are buying is compatible with your computer. People who have recently purchased new computers find that their older Hinshaw CDs cannot be read by them.)

William Wade Hinshaw, a professional opera singer associated with the Metropolitan Opera in New York, was brought up as a member of the Religious Society of Friends in Iowa. As an adult, he developed a keen interest in his Quaker background and worked with others to try to find Quaker records related to his family. Over time he became convinced to copy the records of entire Monthly Meetings rather than search here and there through scattered documents across the country. His goal then became, with the transcription and editing help of others, to publish abstracts of the extant records from all of the early American Monthly Meetings that could be found. Unfortunately, this endeavor was cut short when he died in 1947. His last volume was published by his widow after he passed away.

Material for a volume containing Indiana meeting records had been compiled during this time These records, edited by Willard Heiss, were later published by the Indiana Historical Society in three parts titled Abstracts of the Records of the Society of Friends in Indiana. The information in these publications also resides at the Friends Historical Library, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.

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William Wade Hinshaw (left) and Hinshaw in the role of Mephisto in the
opera Faust, 1910-13. Courtesy of the Hinshaw Family Association.

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Hinshaw's volumes cover only a few states and include only a few, usually the earliest, Monthly Meetings within these states. The volumes are:

Volume I: North Carolina (includes meeting records from North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, and one meeting each from Georgia and Virginia.Volume II: Pennsylvania (includes two meetings from New Jersey and some Pennsylvania meetings)Volume III: New York (includes some meetings from New York and Long Island)Volume IV: Ohio (includes some Ohio meetings, some Pennsylvania meetings and one Michigan meeting)Volume V: Ohio (includes some Ohio meetings)Volume VI: Virginia (includes most Virginia meetings)

The individual meeting records contained in these volumes are as follows:

Hinshaw also left an Index to Quaker Meeting Records--a cross index that lists surnames and indicates which meeting records contain these names. This index resides at the Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College and consists of some 285,000 entries on 3" X 5" cards! The index has been microfilmed, however, and the microfilm records are available through the Family History Library of the Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints.

The Religious Society of Friends used a large number of abbreviations when recording information about member marriages, deaths, births, movements to other meetings, misconduct ,and other matters. These abbreviations are contained in Hinshaw's records as well as in archival records of meeting minutes. An explanation of these abbreviations is provided on this blog under Record Abbreviations.

Ann Hanna Hambleton

Ann was the mother-in-law of Philena Cooper Hambleton, the subject of Philena's Friendship Quilt: A Quaker Farewell to Ohio, and the great-aunt of Senator Marcus Hanna of Ohio.

American Quilt Study Group

Do you know about the American Quilt Study Group (AQSG)? If not, you should. The purpose of this non-profit organization is to establish, sustain, and promote the highest standards for quilt related studies, to encourage these studies, and to provide opportunities to disseminate the work of both academic and non-academic researchers. Membership in the AQSG entitles one to receive Uncoverings, an annual journal of the research papers presented at AQSG's yearly Seminar, and a quarterly publication titled Blanket Statements containing research papers, notes and queries, as well as AQSG and quilt world news. In addition, an annual directory is provided that lists the names, contact information, and interests of current AQSG members--a valuable networking resource that gives access to approximately 950 fellow quilt enthusiasts. Click on the quilt block above to visit AQSG's web site and learn how to become a member. The site also provides information about the organization's annual Seminar, its publication opportunities, its Quilt Study program, and the Technical Guides and other publications available to members and the general public. AQSG is also on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Quilt-Study-Group/149056808116.

Quaker Quilts: Snapshots from an Exhibition

This pamphlet by Mary Holton Robare contains photographic and informational snapshots of quilts that were displayed in a three-day exhibit of Quaker Quilts held at Abram's Delight Museum in Winchester, Virginia, in 2014. The exhibit featured twenty-six quilts made between ca. 1840 and 2007. Click on the image to learn more about it.

Quilts and Quaker Heritage

Mary Holton Robare's book on selected quilts from an exhibition at the Virginia Quilt Museum in 2008. Click on the book to order and search by title.

Philena's Friendship Quilt: A Quaker Farewell to Ohio

In this 4th publication of the Ohio Quilt Series published by Ohio University Press, Lynda Salter Chenoweth presents the story of Philena Cooper Hambleton and the quilt made for her in Ohio in 1853 to take with her when she migrated to Iowa. To order, click on the book and then search by title.

Neighbors and Friends: Quakers in Community

Lynda Salter Chenoweth's second book based on her research into Philena's quilt tells the stories of those whose names appear on the quilt and places their lives in context. To order, click on the book and then search by title.

When This You See Remember Me

Also of interest by Mary Holton Robare. Schoolgirl Samplers of Winchester and Frederick County, Virginia. To order, click on the book, click "Store", then "Softcover Books" and search on title.

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Copyright

(c) 2011-2017 Lynda Salter Chenoweth and Mary Holton Robare. Absolutely no reproduction or distribution permitted beyond one copy for personal study. For additional permissions regarding text please e-mail lchen@saber.net. All images are reproduced with permission of copyright holders. Any commercial or online use is strictly forbidden.

Lynda Salter Chenoweth

Mary Holton Robare

About Us

Lynda and Mary are quilt historians experienced in researching and publishing information about quilts made by members of the Religious Society of Friends. Their particular interest is in 19th century inscribed quilts that document Quaker families and their communities.
Lynda lives in Sonoma,California, and is a writer, a quilter, a researcher, and a member of the Board of the American Quilt Study Group. Mary lives in Winchester, Virginia, and is a writer, a researcher, and a choreographer and dance instructor.